The National Audubon Society has sued Interior Secretary Bernhardt over a decision to allow federal funds to pay for mining sand from Coastal Barrier Resources Act zones.
Coastal Policy
Property Owners Score Win in Bridge Dispute
A judge has granted a judicial review to property owners near the site of a planned bridge to Harkers Island, including the Coastal Resources Commission’s vice chair, who are challenging permits for the project.
Judge Rules Duck Beach Access Is Public
A judge has ruled in favor of Outer Banks business owner Bob Hovey and his wife Tanya, who have long advocated for public beach access in Duck and who filed a lawsuit arguing that a walkway posted as “private” was in the public trust.
CRC Grants Variance On Jinks Creek Project
A divided state Coastal Resources Commission approved last week a variance for Sunset Beach to dredge portions of Jinks Creek deeper than was previously permitted.
State Extends Time For Input On New IHAs
The Division of Coastal Management has added another month for public comments on proposed redrawn inlet hazard area boundaries and associated development rules that have some beach towns concerned.
New Dare Flood Maps Misrepresent Risk
Updated flood maps for Dare County and its six towns misrepresent the flood risk for property owners, the county planning director says.
Rule Change May Threaten Coastal Areas
The recent reversal of a rule that limited where sand from federally restricted coastal zones may be placed may help towns with beach renourishment but could also put sensitive resources at risk.
State’s Inlet Hazard Plan Criticized at Hearing
Holden Beach residents and a town official objected this week to the Division of Coastal Management’s proposal to expand the designated inlet hazard area at Shallotte Inlet.
State Conditions Sunset Beach Dredge Permit
The N.C. Division of Coastal Management has issued a permit to Sunset Beach to dredge south Jinks Creek but with conditions, including limiting excavation to less than half of the requested depth.
NC’s Next Sea Level Rise Study to Eye 2100
The next update to the state’s periodic review of sea level rise science will consider projections out to 2100, not just the rolling 30-year time table the previous Coastal Resources Commission had mandated.
Cleanups Net More Than 200 Tons of Debris
Efforts to clear wood, fishing gear and other debris that Hurricane Florence scattered along a 42-mile stretch of N.C. coastline collected more than 200 tons and numerous vessels.
Topsail Island’s Southern Tip Back on Market
A 110-acre, oceanfront tract at New Topsail Inlet that’s in a federal Coastal Barriers Resource Act zone has again been listed for sale, prompting new worries about development.
Swamp No More: New Plan Ahead for River
No longer classified as a swamp, work is to begin on a new plan to address the Lower Cape Fear River water quality problems that prompted the attempted regulatory end run.
CRC to Discuss Challenge to Setback Rules
The Coastal Resources Commission meets Wednesday in Beaufort and will likely go behind closed doors to discuss a lawsuit over the denial of permits to rebuild an oceanfront house on Seagull Drive in Nags Head.
Study Calls for State Action on Derelict Boats
As officials in coastal N.C. communities grapple with abandoned and derelict vessels blocking or polluting waterways and public lands, a recent report recommends a statewide solution.
Ports Authority Set to Appeal Permit Denial
The State Ports Authority will try to persuade the Coastal Resources Commission this week that a proposed expansion project’s economic benefits outweigh any environmental concerns.
